Australian Scott Higginbotham was banned for two Tests for kneeing and headbutting All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

The All Blacks were understandably upset that no action was taken at that crucial juncture in the game.

‘I saw the headbutt – it’s another cheap shot,’ coach Steve Hansen said. ‘He seems to get them every week but everyone seems to miss them.’

Sanzar judicial officer Jannie Lubbe, who exonerated Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper after he kneed McCaw in the head during the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane last year, categorised Higginbotham’s foul play as ‘low level’.

Lubbe was of the opinion that the kneeing was more ‘was more of a bump than a hit’.

The headbutt, meanwhile, ‘was reckless and not executed with much force’.